The 2023 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard is a classic Russian River Chardonnay presented in a measured, neatly balanced package. Baked apple tart, lemon peel, white flowers and a kiss of sweet French oak embrace the palate with gentle creaminess. A bump of weight in the mid-palate leads to a notably smooth, polished finish.

The 2023 Chardonnay Warrior Princess Block, from Zena Crown Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, comes across very Old-World and almost Chenin-Blanc-like. Tense, phenolic and pure, the 2023 unfurls layers of candlewax, wet wool, chalk, mint and green apple as it settles across the palate with a sense of softness and understated creaminess. I like where this sits in the range—it definitely expresses a different style than the rest of the Hartford Chardonnays.

The 2023 Grenache Morning Chorus Vineyard, from a site on Sonoma Mountain, is very young but very promising. Pine, blood orange, lavender and dark cherry tones flesh out across the broad, caressing palate, but a strong toasty oak imprint stands in the way of the wine's definition today. Still, there's great depth of fruit and ample mid-palate heft to make this a joy to drink. A nip of mountain structure on the finish adds a bit of flair.

The 2023 Pinot Noir Truly Rita comes from the Dierberg site in the Sta. Rita Hills. It opens with a tropical-leaning bouquet of passion fruit, guava, ripe raspberry and black tea. It’s finely chiseled but nicely articulated, with a deft balance of body and tannin. The 2023 is a confident, exuberant wine that will benefit from a year or two to calm down.

The 2024 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) really overdelivers. It’s an ideal expression of the Russian River Valley, with all the bright, sunny orchard fruit and spritzy citrus lift you could hope for, but also an extra measure of freshness and juiciness that leaves the mouth watering. Notably restrained, the 2024 shows excellent finesse, especially for an appellation-level bottling.

The 2023 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard is richer and darker than the Russian River bottling, but it’s still undeniably pure. Mocha, blue fruit, cedar and white pepper blossom in the glass. The 2023 feels a little somber today, but it sizzles with an undercurrent of freshness and never feels too heavy.

Fresh apple and zesty curd. Poised, bright, pure, with lifted fruit and a clean, layered texture. Mineral edges with lively acidity add energy. A gentle, refined and balanced

Generous and juicy, with lemon sherbet, pear and lime zest notes complemented by details of toasted green tea, lemon oregano and wet rock minerality. Harmonious and complex on the finish. Drink now. 322 cases made.

A juicy, succulent, medium-bodied wine with aromas and flavors of sweet pears, apples, Meyer lemons and finger limes. Mouthwatering acidity leads to a long finish and a hint of sweet spices at the end. Drink now.

Based on 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc and aged 19 months in 49% new French oak, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley comes from a mix of sites throughout the valley, and total production is down as they continue to focus on quality. Ripe black fruits, hints of cassis, graphite, and dark chocolate define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered mouthfeel and ripe tannins. There are 9,843 cases produced, and it will drink beautifully over the coming 10-12 years. Drink 2025-2037.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is scented of red cherry, blackberry, forest floor and floral potpourri. The medium-bodied palate is silky and bright with concentrated, crunchy flavors and a long, spicy finish. This is dangerously easy to drink!

The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard has layered aromas of red cherries and berries, charcuterie, forest floor and well-integrated wafts of baking spice. The medium-bodied palate features bright, crunchy flavors. It’s framed by soft, dusty tannins and has a long, spicy finish.

Matured for six months in stainless steel, the 2024 Viognier has inviting scents of apple, peach, beeswax, citrus blossoms and petrichor. The full-bodied palate pairs concentrated, mouth-coating flavors with surprisingly fresh acidity, and it has a long, nuanced finish. 1,553 cases were made.

The NV Brut Rosé Extended Tirage is composed of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Base wines were matured in stainless steel and French oak, and it spent six years en tirage. Disgorged in May of 2024, it has a pale onion-skin color and scents of red apple skin, raspberries and freshly baked bread. The medium-bodied palate offers concentrated, savory flavors and a soft, creamy mousse. Its bright acidity is balanced by two grams of dosage, and it has a long, elegant finish.

Graham Weerts sources this Chenin Blanc from his friend Adi Badenhorst's Kalmoesfontein farm in the Swartland. Picked early to retain acidity in a warm region, it has appealing granitic drive and freshness, some subtle stony reduction, a hint of petrichor from ageing in amphoras and old wood and a core of citrus and yellow apple fruit. 2025-2

The 2018 Merlot, from vineyards in Bennett Valley, offers an intriguing mix of bold fruit and strong complicating savory undertones. Black cherry, espresso, sage, menthol, licorice and dried flowers build with a bit of time in the glass. Far from an easygoing Merlot, the Matanzas Creek Merlot is a serious wine.

This silky and fruit-focused Pinot Noir features delicate notes of spices, adding layers to its character. Aromas of raspberries introduce similar berry flavors, followed by a subtle hint of clove for a long finish.

Honey, truffle, and flint are at the fore from first sniff on this brut bubbly from England’s largest producer. It takes some snuffling to get to the fruit, but it’s there—subtle and citrusy, like grapefruit and green apple with a nougaty center. A radiant beam of acidity shines through the center of the palate. There’s a bit of sugar visible, and it all veers a touch tart at the finish. But a subtle slippery texture keeps it on the tracks.

Sweet vanilla and orchard fruit on the nose, with a rich middle and flavors of candied green apples and toasted almonds. Medium-bodied. Drink now. 

A swirl of the glass lifts a nose of bright raspberry, crushed Bing cherry, cinnamon, and caramel aromas. The palate of this wine is lively and ripe, with berry fruit dominating. A framework of supple tannin and juicy acidity is followed by nuances of flowers, cinnamon, and mint through the finish.

A compelling mix of toasted nut, white flower, lemon drizzle, and crushed rock aromas align on the nose of this bottling. The palate lands with baked lemon and mild oak flavors that are enlivened by a zesty acidity.

A rich and satisfying, medium-bodied wine with a creamy midpalate and a bright, juicy finish. Aromas of toasted almonds and vanilla bean with flavors of golden and green apples. Drink now.

A medium-bodied wine with aromas of almond skin, green apples and popped rice on the nose with flavors of golden apples, caramel and vanilla. Bright acidity brings it to a fresh, dry finish. Drink now.

An impressive overview of the region, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers a quintessential, refined and precise expression of the house style. It showcases a more polished, slightly honeyed side of Brewer-Clifton, concluding with a harmonious, succulent finish that lingers with the region's signature saline-laced minerality.

As with the Chardonnay iteration, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills encapsulates the region, house and vintage with admirable precision and crystal clarity. Red-fruited, herbal and crushed stone aromas introduce a lifted yet saturated palate, concluding with a similarly vibrant and pleasantly savory finish that lingers with marine nuances.